Conveying system.



1ATBNTED JUNE 18, 1907.

A. c, MoooRD. CONVEYING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATIOI FILED NOV. 4, 1902. BENEWED JAN. 2. 190B.'

UNITED sTATns PATENT onnron.

ALVIN C. MCCORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONVEYING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

. Application filed November 4, 1902. Renewed January 2, 1906. SerialNo. 294,153.

. adapted for `fuse in conveying either light or heavy materials forlong distances. For example, it is well adapted for the conveying ofgrain, sand, coal, or ore, and many other kinds 'of material. Thepreferred conveying fiuid emplo ed is atmospheric air.

The chie characteristic feature of the invention is inlets for the air,so shaped and applied that the air will beintroduced into the conveyerin a spiral direction and made to follow a spiral course in its movementtoward the exit end of the conveyer.

Another important characteristic feature is that the air inlets are soshaped and applied that the air enters the conveyer tangential to thebore of the conveyer tube.

The joint effect of these two features is to compel the air to take aspiral course directly adjacent to the wall of the conveyer pipe whileat the same time moving lengthwise of the' pipe toward the exit end ofthe same. In this way a cushion of air is provided adjacent to the wallof the tube which prevents the forcible contact of the conveyed materialwith the wall of the tube, while at the same time, the material iscarried forward with the whirling and traveling body of air.

As another feature of the invention', the conveyor pipe is surrounded byan air facket,

which air jacket is divided into cham ers or sections separated fromeach other lengthwise of the conveyer pipe and jacket, thereby making itpossible to apply air at different pressures to different sections oftheconvey ing system.

In accordance with another feature of my invention, the prefe ed meansfor effecting the flow of the codkyed fiuid through the openings residesin alblowing engine, a blowing pipe extending lcngitudinally of theconveying pipe and sepaated chambers or compartments in communicationwith the openings and connected Vith the blower pipe by parallelbranches. ln order that the con,-

veyed material may not be likely to congest within the conveying pipe,the blowing engine or source of air pressure is located at the exit endof the conveying pipe, causing the greatest pressure at that end of thepipe, the pressure gradually dropping off toward the other end of thepipe, by which arrangement there is a gradual acceleration in the speedof the conveyed material toward the exit end.

The conveying pipes may be provided with intakes or chutes, eachdesirably provided with a pair of doors. One door controls thecommunication of the conveying pipe with the corresponding chute and theother door controls the opening through which material is passed. Inorder that the doors may be properly operated, mechanism is provided forworking the ysame together, so that when a chute is thrown intocommunication with the conveying pipe the opening through which thematerial that is to be conveyed is passed is closed, and vice versa.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in Which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the conveyingsystem equipped in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectionalview on line 2 2 of Fig. 1'; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view on line 3-3 ofFig. 1; Fig. 4 is an elevation partially in section of a portion of theconveying pipe.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe different figures.

The conveying pipe a is of any suitable diameter, an inner diameter of afoot having been found successful in practice, while the wall of thepipe is sufficiently thick to enable the apertures or openings b to havethe requisite directions to initiate the travel of the streams of fluidforced through the openings in the proper directions; I have found thethickness of one-half an inch to be well adapted for the purpose. Theseopenings, as illustrated in Fig. 3 are preferably tangential withrespect to the inner surfaceI of the conveying pipe, and are inclinedtoward the exit end c of the conveying pipe. These openings arerelatively spirally arranged as indicated most clearly in Fig. ,4, beingdesirably spirallyalined, the openings in each spiral line thusco-operating throughout the entire length of the pipe to maintain theconveying fiuid in the desired spiral line of travel. Invvlthispreferred way a filmy cushion of fluid IIC veying pipe being jacketedwholly or par-` tially by chambers d, which are substantially distinctfrom each other, the chambers being separated by partitions e e thatsnugly inclose the conveying pipe, the said partitions being desirablyintegrally formed with the peripheral walls of the chambers. The blowerpipe f is extended longitudinally of the conveyer pipe, the connectionsor pipe branches g affording communication between the pipe f and thechambers d. The branches g are thus parallel with respect to each other,and the air that is forced through the same circulates about theinterior of the chambers and is distributed through the openings in thepipe a that arein direct communication with the chamber, the partitionse serving to properly confine the air. Any suitable means for forcingthe air through the openings b and the branches a may be employed,

there being indicated a blowing engine h direct communication with thepipe This blowing engine is desirably located near the exit end of theconveying pipe, so that the pressure impressed thereby is highest atthis end, decreasing at each subsequent branch connection g. Theobjectief this location of the engine is to cause the. air to beimpressed through the openings b at a pressure which gradually increasestoward the eXit end of the conveying pipe, so that the material, assaw-dust, shavings and other matter, 'will gradually have its speedaccelerated as it approaches the exit, so that this material will nothave an opportunity to aecumulate and thereby impede the passage of thematerial behind. to be conveyed may find its entrance at the rear-end ofthe pipe, or it may be passed through a chute i desirably passingthrough a chamber or jacket d into a pipe-(1,. lhe chute may beconstructed in any desirable manner and is preferablyprovided with twodoors, k and4 l, located at the bottom and top of the chute or intake.The upper door k controlsthe opening through which material 'that is tobe conveyed is poured into' the chute, while the lower door I controlsthe connection between the conveying pipe and the chute, one door beingclosed when the other is open, preferably through the agency of link m,which causesfthe required relative operation ofthe doors.

The chamber or jacket (l through which the "chute passes is sealedtherefrom, the onlyv communication between the chamber and the chutebeing by way of the apertures b.

The material that is It will, of course, be understood that the vitalfeatures of my invention herein disclosed can be embodied in manifoldforms of structure.

1. In a conveying system, the combination with a pipe having spirallydirected openings therethrough, of separate chambers distributed alongthe 'pipe in communication with the openings therein, and a blowingengine in communication With said chambers, substantially as described.

2. In a conveying system, the combination with a pipe having spirallydirected and spirally alined openings therethrough, ofseparate chambersdistributed along the pipe'm communication'with the openings there1n,

and a blowing engine in communication with said chambers, substantiallyas described.

3. In a conveying system, the combination-with apipe having spirallydirected openings therethrough tangential with the inner surface of thepipe, of separate chambers distributed along the pipe in communicationwith the openings therein, and a blowing engine in communication withsaid chambers, substantially as described.

4. In a conveying system, the combination with a pipe having spirallydirected and spirally alined openings therethrough tangential with theinner surface of the pipe, of separate chambers distributed along thepipe in communication with the openings therein, and a blowing engine incommunication with said chambers, substantially as described.

5. In a conveying system, the combination with a pipe having spirallyarranged openings inclined toward the exit end of the pipe, of separatechambers distributed along the pipe. in communication with the openingstherein, and a blowing engine 1n communication with sald chambers,substan-1 tially as described.

6. In a conveying syste-m, the combination with a pipe having spirallyarranged openings inclined toward theexit end of the pipe and tangentialwith the pipes inner surface, of separate chambers distributed along thepipe in communication with the openings therein, and a blowing engine incommunication with saidchambers, substan-d tially as described.

7. In a conveying system, the combination with a pipe having spirallydirected openings therethrough and-inclined toward the exit end of thepipe, of separate chambers distributed along the pipe. in communicationwith the openings therein, and a blowing engine in comnumieytii'm withsaid chambers, substantially as described;

8. In a conveying system. the combinacommuiiiications Withthe openingstherein,

anda blowing engine in communication With described.

ing engine in communication with said chambers, substantially `asdescribed.

10. In a conveying system, the combina-` tion with a-'Vpi e ,havingspirally directed openings theret lough and inclined toward the exit endof the pipe, tangential with the innery surface of the pipe, of meansfor forcing fluid through said openings,ysubstantially as described.- fl 11. -In a conveyingfsystem, the combination with a pipe havingvspirally directed and `spirallyv alined openings therethrough,l

. and inclined'towardftheexit end of the pipe,-

Lofiin'eans for forcingfluid through said open-v ings','substantially'as described.

12. In a conveying system, the combination with a pi e having' spirallydirected o enjngs theret ough'and inclined toward t e exit endgy of thepipe, ofmeans for, forcing fluid through said'openings, substantially asdescribed.

13. In a conveying system, the combination `with a pipe havin spirallyarranged openingsinclinedtowar the exit end of the pipe.a nd tangentialwith the pipes inner surface, of means for forcing fluid through said oenings, substantially as described.

' v14 nafconveying system, the'combinathffayfpipe having spirallyarranged o eni-iigsfinclli'iedtoward the exit end of thefmeansj'forforcing fluid through said openings, substantially asdescribed.

15. In a conveying system, the combina- Vtion with a pi e havingspirally directed and spirallyT `aline openings therethrough, tangentialwith the inner surface of the pipe, of

lmeans yfor forcinl fluid through said pipe,

substantially 'as escribed.

16,. Inafconveying system, the combination'ia pi e. having spirallydirected openingstheret rough, tangential With the nnersuriace ofthepipe, of means for forcing fluid ,through said openings, substantiallyas described;

17 In alconveying system, the combination Witha pipe having spirallydirected and spirally. galined (penings therethrough, of means forforcing uid through said openings, substantially as described.

18. Ina conveying system, kthe combina-` tion with,l a: pipe Vhavingspirallyl'directed Witnesses:

openings therethrough, of means for forcing fluid through said openings,substantiallyas chute having one door controlling communication betweenthe same and the .pipe and another door at the reception opening of thechute, the doors bein provided with mechanism for operating t e sametogether, the doors being so relatively disposed that the chutes areopened forthe reception of material when the are cut off from the pipe,and

`vice versa, su stantially as described.

20. In a conveying system, the combination with a conveying pipeyprovided with openings therethrough serving to direct fluid toward theexit end of the pipe, of a blowing pipe communicating with the aforesaidpipe at intervals, anda blowingengine located nearest the exit end ofthe pipe and com municating with said blowing pipe, substantially asdescribed.

21. In a conveying system,.the combination with a conveying pidpeprovided v vith openings therethrough or- 'recting fluid into itsinterior toward the leiit end of the pipe, of a plurality of separateehambersdistributed along said pipe andcommunicating with the openingstherein, 'and means for forcing air into said chambers and; thencethrough the openings, substantially as described. 22. A conveying pipein combination With means for effecting t e flow of fluid therein and achute or intakefor the material in communication with said pipe, saidchute having one door controlling communication between the same and theipe 'and another door at the reception o emng of the chute, the doorsbein provi ed With mechanism for operatingt e same to ether, the doorsbeing so relatively dispose that the chutes are opened for the receptionof material when IOO they are cutoff froin the pipe, and vice versa,

substantially as described.

- therethrough, ofV an air c amber surrounding said spirally. erforatedpipe, and means for producin' a last of airv in said surrounding aircham er, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this twenty-eighth dayof October; A. D. 1902.

' ALVIN C. MCCORD.

' OWEN S. BIRD,

GEORGE L. CRAGG.

